Becoming An Idol Wasn’T On My Plan [EN]: Chapter 34

34.

‘Well… I think the basic sketch is done.’

I played the song with the rough framework I had created. The string instruments blended elegantly, creating a lonely atmosphere.

Afterward, the string instruments transitioned to staccato, the sound cutting off briefly and echoing, with the guitar blooming within it.

…It’s lonelier than I expected.

Rather than a summer vacation… it’s more like a story about two brothers who are the only survivors in a dystopian world, struggling to survive.

Perhaps because it’s a song I made while thinking about my experiences with my younger sibling, it’s less about an elegant nobleman and more about a fallen aristocrat.

I listen to the song as it rushes toward its climax. At the moment of climax, the number of instruments decreases, as if expressing an empty heart, only becoming lonelier.

“This… isn’t a song for us, but a song for me.”

In other words, putting it on the debut album is a ridiculous thing to do. If a song like this is on the album, there’s no way we’ll get the Rookie Award; it won’t even feel like we’re a group.

‘Hmm, I really like the song, but it’s quite a waste.’

* * *

At the second planning meeting, Team Leader Jang Haejin is very flustered.

“Therefore, the name ‘Blossence’ seems like a good choice.”

As Ryu Ideun finished his 10-minute presentation and sat down, Ji Donghwa applauded expressionlessly, as if to say he had done a good job.

Why, why does he need so many references to argue for a single name?

“Who wrote this presentation… Ha… It must be Ji Donghwa, of course.”

Arguing that the team name should be Blossence with a total of 15 reasons, including Aristotle’s research paper on rhetoric and the positive nuance of the name Blossence from a phonological perspective.

Was this a university? Jang Haejin felt a headache as she momentarily went back to the past and felt like she was listening to a presentation class.

“…Donghwa, why are you going this far?”

Ji Donghwa smiled faintly without saying a word.

‘…That’s the same expression the professor made before cursing at my assignment.’

Was the name our team prepared that bad? She had many thoughts.

“Actually, there are more reasons, but I left them out of the presentation.”

Ji Donghwa carefully raised his hand.

“Chae Hamin’s birthday is August 31st, and his birth flower is the clover, and my birthday is January 1st, and my birth flower is the snowdrop, and my name is Winter Dong [Donghwa’s given name], Flower Hwa [part of Donghwa’s given name].”

Then, he nodded once and said quietly.

“But if the name includes Blossom, doesn’t it fit together very beautifully?”

In the end, Jang Haejin had no choice but to nod at Ji Donghwa’s words.

‘…It fits together incredibly well.’

Already, her brain was quickly working on how to turn this into a selling point.

* * *

After expressing Lee Hyunjae’s opinion enthusiastically at the planning meeting, we gathered for lessons.

“Hamin, have you ever been on a cruise or anything like that?”

During dance lessons, I asked Chae Hamin, who was presumed to be the wealthiest.

“Um, yeah, about three years ago?”

I feel a sense of distance again.

“…What was it like?”

“Um, my father, what was it? Anyway, he gathered his friends and had a party or something on a cruise, so I honestly didn’t have fun.”

So, businessmen gathered and held a donation event or something, and he was invited there.

“But why?”

“…I’m trying to write a song, but I’ve never been to the sea.”

Then, Chae Hamin thought for a moment, clapped his hands, and said.

“Then let’s all go together when we get free time on the reality show this time!”

Whether he was attracted to it, Ryu Ideun also shouted while drinking water.

“I’m in favor!”

…I was just planning to read a book and rest at home.

* * *

Two days later, we got into the car following the guidance of Kang Seungwon, who would be our manager.

Incheon Sea, it’s my first time going by car.

Manager Kang Seungwon gave us blankets, saying it would be a bit chilly since it was only April.

As soon as I got out of the car, the salty smell spread from the tip of my nose.

“…It’s wide and beautiful.”

I murmured quietly. Unlike the sea in autumn, the sea in spring was full of life.

I went to the sandy beach and took off my shoes. The sensation of sand flowing between my toes is ticklish.

“…Wow, it’s been a long time since I’ve been to the sea, hyung [older brother/male friend].”

“…Me too.”

I slowly walk and put my feet in the seawater.

‘…Wow, it’s cold.’

I slowly crouch down, put my hands in, and splash around.

‘…Wow, splashing around.’

While I was feeling the sensation of the water for a while, a huge cruise ship was seen passing in the distance.

“Vienna, Vienna, Vienna, Schnitzel―”

I quietly hummed a song and continued to splash around like that for a while.

In the meantime, I hear Seokjun talking to someone.

“Donghwa hyungnim [respectful term for older brother/male friend]― seems to be― very excited.”

“I know, Donghwa hyung is calling out his dark history himself.”

I pretended not to hear and looked up.

Oh, the sky is clear over there.

* * *

# From the edited version of Reality Episode 1

The scene of Ji Donghwa crouching down, putting his hands in the sea, and splashing around keeps passing.

[Just doing this for 10 minutes]

Ji Donghwa keeps looking at the splashing water and passing ships, wondering what’s so amazing.

Then, he keeps humming a serenade composed of lyrics called ‘Vienna Schnitzel.’

[Donghwa, why are you doing this……?]

Behind such Ji Donghwa, four trainees gathered, lifted him up, and started running.

‘Wow! Wait, I can’t swim! The possibility of death is imminent! Wait, at least save my recorder!’

Then, the other members of Blossence only took the recorder and dropped Ji Donghwa into the sea.

After struggling for a while, he got up and shouted loudly and ran out.

‘Ryu Ideun! You, come here!’

Ryu Ideun starts running away from the approaching Ji Donghwa.

‘Why only me, Donghwa hyung!’

‘Is there any corner where this kind of plan would come out other than in your brain!’

And the scene of the two of them running and running on the beach is switched to a screen taken from a distance.

And the lovely music that comes out. It was like a scene from a classic melodrama saying, ‘Catch me if you can.’

[Blossence is a comedy when viewed from afar,]

And Ji Donghwa, who finally caught up with Ryu Ideun, is instead lifted up by Ryu Ideun with one hand and dropped back into the sea, is zoomed in.

[It’s a comedy even when viewed up close.

―Said the PD [Production Director] in charge of editing while laughing]

‘Ryu Ideun! I will definitely! Assassinate you!’

‘As expected, Donghwa hyung is the coolest when he’s angry.’

* * *

I sat down, shivering. Manager Kang Seungwon keeps wrapping a blanket around my body.

“Are you okay?”

“…Thank you, manager. But are you okay with Blossence changing to a 4-member system from today?”

“With all due respect, you are too weak to kill Ryu Ideun.”

“…Now, it’s really just poisoning.”

“By the way, did you get any ideas?”

I sigh.

“Surprisingly, yes.”

I took out the recorder and played it.

‘Vienna, Vienna, Vienna, Schnitzeler―’

Manager Kang Seungwon momentarily burst out laughing at the sweet voice flowing out.

…Damn it, I should have recorded it with a different word next time.

“The song is, cough, good.”

…Please just laugh it off.

* * *

After returning from the sea, I worked in the studio for about four hours and returned to the dorm.

‘Hoo, it’s 2 a.m., already.’

Ryu Ideun is sitting in the living room, waving his hand when he sees me coming in.

“Donghwa, you’re quite late.”

“…It’s a nuisance if the song work is late.”

Seeing that, Ryu Ideun went to the kitchen, poured a glass of water, and said…….

“Leader, I think it’s right for me to do it.”

Um, that’s obvious.

“…How many times have I said it? The other members didn’t have any complaints about hyung doing it either.”

“Actually, I still think it’s better for you to be the leader. You’re younger than me, but sometimes you’re more like a hyung.”

Hmm, he’s just looking at a socially inept person very favorably.

“But… when I see you working hard, I want to help you somehow.”

…This is a bit unexpected. It’s very, slightly touching.

“…Then, come to the studio tomorrow and work with me. It’s our song, so we have to write it.”

“Oh! Good, Donghwa hyung! I’ll take all the kids with me with the leader’s authority!”

Ah, I’m already looking forward to tomorrow.

* * *

“Everyone, how is this version?”

I sit in the studio and ask.

“…Donghwa hyung, let me go now.”

I smile at Ryu Ideun and answer.

“Ideun, you have no right to speak.”

“Hyungnim― do you― know it’s been five hours― now?”

I smiled again and answered.

“…Jun, I’m okay even if I stay up for 4 consecutive days.”

Lee Hyunjae, who is originally weak, is half unconscious, Chae Hamin is staring blankly into the air, and Ryu Ideun and Seokjun seem to be okay since they still have the strength to talk.

“…This is all for Blossence to succeed.”

“In the first place… no one knows how to compose except Jun, Donghwa hyung?”

I smiled again at Ryu Ideun, who was protesting.

“Leader, didn’t you clearly say yesterday that you wanted to do it yourself because you saw me working hard?”

“…I did.”

“But are you going to abandon me, who is working on a song for the team, in the studio and run away?”

“…I can’t do that.”

Ryu Ideun stroked his face a few times and muttered.

“…Then, respecting the leader’s opinion, everyone except the leader and Seokjun go and take care of your business.”

At that moment, Ryu Ideun and Seokjun made desperate expressions, and Chae Hamin and Lee Hyunjae shouted and ran out of the studio as if they would be caught.

“Hyungnim! Why me!”

Oh, he’s fast. Unlike Seokjun, who is protesting, Ryu Ideun is quiet because of what he said.

“…Because you can compose.”

“No, hyungnim, something, something is wrong!”

“It’s for the team, Jun.”

Absolutely, absolutely not because you guys dropped me in the sea yesterday.

* * *

While working for about five more hours, I lightly ignored Ryu Ideun and Seokjun, who were screaming that they were going crazy after listening to the same part for an hour.

Only Seokjun and Ryu Ideun’s groans and the sound of me pressing the mouse and keyboard were heard, and at the moment when the most basic sketch of the song was completed…….

“Finally, finally, it’s liberation!”

“Jun, Jun! Is this reality? Why is it so unreal? I feel like it’s been almost twelve hours since I came in here!”

It’s a mess. I hid my exhilarating psychology and looked at the two of them.

“…Thanks to your help, a better song was completed.”

“Donghwa hyung, do you always work like this without resting?”

Then, are you saying you should quit while working?

“Yeah, you’re the type to stick to something until the end.”

“…I want to end work, not my life.”

If you say that, it sounds like someone is trying to kill you. The Ryu Ideun assassination plan hasn’t even started yet.

“Now, if we just touch it up a little tomorrow and give it to the A&R [Artists and Repertoire] team, they’ll take care of the rest.”

Saying that, on the way out of the studio, I took out my phone to send a message to Mok-hwa to sleep well.

“Donghwa hyungnim― I’ve never seen― anyone still using― that phone.”

“…It’s still working well.”

The moment I opened the phone and went to the message window, I paused.

‘Hello, Donghwa hoobae [junior/younger colleague]! I would like to meet you tomorrow and discuss our future album work together. What do you think?

(A picture of Junseong with his finger pointing straight ahead with the phrase ‘I WANT YOU FOR MY ALBUM’)

…What is this, is he crazy? He’s meticulously crazy.

I slowly read the text for a moment and closed the phone cover.

‘…I’m too busy writing songs for my members, what is this.’